RUSSIA READY TO FUND NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)

The Messenger, Georgia
May 2 2007

According to the Russian news agency Regnum, the Armenian government
announced that an agreement has been reached between Russia and Armenia
about Russia funding the construction of a new nuclear power plant
in Armenia. In return, Russia will become the co-owner of the plant.

Armenia says it must build a new nuclear power plant to meet the
country’s electricity demands. The current plant at Metsamor is
severely outdated. Closing down the existing station will cost USD 240
million. The deadline is 2016, but under the European Neighbourhood
Policy plan Armenia signed, they agreed to close the power plant in
a shorter period of time.

The existing station provides Armenia with approximately half of its
electricity needs. It consists of two reactors which have a total
capacity of 815 MWe.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress